The emergence of modern theater in the Ottoman Empire and therefore in Istanbul in the history of Turkish Literature is one of the reasons for the multifaceted westernization adventure since the beginning of the 19th century. Theater has emerged as a city experience due to the abundance of culture, nation and language. With an unprecedented change, in which new arguments about society, art and politics were expressed and staged; It has been instrumental in bringing together many artists from all over the city.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the theater activities, which were seen in some houses of Istanbul and later on or in schools, started to become professional after the adoption of the Tanzimat. Thus, it has become publicly available. By the last quarter of the 19th century, theater will be seen as a cultural and political tool, and eventually its value will be appreciated. In the end, the knowledge and experience of theater accumulated throughout the century will turn into a professional branch of public art that is watched by the high class and cared for by intellectuals. During the reign of Abdülhamid II, the theater would regress considerably and continue under strict control. However, with the Second Constitutional Era (1908), it would start again and become one of the most effective tools in the entire mixed communication and political environment.
ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY CITY THEATERS
Let’s come to today’s theater. The theater, whose foundations are based on the Ottoman Empire and whose name is Dârülbedayi in Ottoman Turkish, was established during the Ottoman Empire period (1914), and is a theater institution connected to the IMM budget in 1934 under the name of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Theatres. This institution, which has existed since then, still continues its activities. We will share the Stages of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Theaters for you below. While you are in Istanbul, the capital of art, the venues where you can enjoy watching and getting cultured with your friends, spouse and close circle are the venues:
Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage,
Kadıköy Haldun Taner Stage,
Fatih Reşat Nuri Stage,
Gaziosmanpasa Stage,
Ferih Egemen Children’s Theater Stage in Gaziosmanpaşa,
Üsküdar Musahipzade Celal Stage,
Üsküdar Kerem Yılmazer Stage,
Kagithane Sadabad Stage,
Kagithane Little Kemal Children’s Theater Stage,
Sultangazi Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Stage
Umraniye Stage
There are ten theater stages belonging to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Theater Group, bearing their names.
It is also worth mentioning that the City Theaters have an important place in terms of the culture and cultural heritage of Istanbul with the classical plays they put on the stage and the theater community they have trained. In addition, initiatives that appeal to the art tastes of the public, such as the stages owned by the aforementioned institution and the events and festivals, undertake an important mission. To illustrate these activities, there are also panels where poets, writers and theater artists answer questions from the public, and everything that is wanted to be known about the theater is done free of charge, in a conversational manner. Likewise, we can show and recommend festivals such as the “International Istanbul Theater-Place Festival” among such events.